You are here

Hunger

Action Pathways seeks to offer assistance to individuals and families at risk for hunger. We believe access to healthy, nutritious food is a basic right for all members of our community, and that no one should go hungry. The reality is that more than 20% of our service area faces food insecurity daily. Changing this reality is the driving force of the Second Harvest Food Bank of Southeast North Carolina, Action Pathways’ response to hunger.

(910) 485-6923
406 Deep Creek Rd.
Fayetteville, NC 28312

News

The Fayetteville/Cumberland County CROP Hunger Walk is celebrating its 30th year of bringing the community together. An initiative to fight food insecurity, CROP Hunger Walks launched around the country further the mission of Church World Service - which fights to end hunger through grassroots efforts around the world. Each year, faith-based groups, businesses, schools, organizations and residents unite to raise funds that are used to minimize hunger impacting global and local communities.

Mona Hyppolite started of as a volunteer for Second Harvest Food Bank to later become a fully employed member of the team. She recounts her journey with us as she went from volunteering with her church, in awe of all that the food bank does for its community to Reclamation Coordinator, living out her dream of giving back to the community that once helped her, full-time.

Action Pathways Second Harvest Food Bank's Mobile Food Pantry team (Julia Morales, Drew Daniels and Darryl Monroe) were recently recognized at the Heart of Matthew, a luncheon hosted by the Cumberland Disaster Recovery Coalition (CDRC). The event honored the unsung heroes within our community that went above and beyond the call of duty to help those left reeling from the destruction and devastation caused by Hurricane Matthew.

What is a food bank?

A food bank is a non-profit organization that collects and distributes food to hunger relief charities. Food usually comes from various sources in the food industry, like grocery stores and wholesalers that have thousands of pounds of food to give away - food that could otherwise be thrown away. The food is warehoused and with help from volunteers, who sort, pack and re-distribute it to the community. Traditionally, a food bank does not distribute food directly to those in need.

About Second Harvest Food Bank of Southeast North Carolina

Since 1982, we have partnered with more than 250 member agencies, including churches, charities, and schools. In 2014, SHFB distributed approximately 10.4 million pounds, which equates to about 8.7 million meals.

SHFB takes a strategic, multifaceted approach that provides assistance to those in need in our seven county service area; Bladen, Cumberland, Duplin, Harnett, Hoke, Robeson and Sampson County. When the Map the Gap report from Feeding America came out in 2015, it showed that nearly 1 in 6 North Carolinians depend on the food bank for food and other resources. Be part of the change and join us in the fight against hunger.

FACT: It would take more than $850 million to meet food needs in our service area.
FACT: More than 20% of individuals in our service area are critically food insecure.
FACT: More than 27% of children in our area are critically food insecure, thereby impacting their ability to grow and learn appropriately.

In 2017, food banks across North Carolina and South Carolina partnered to form the first multi-state coalition of Feeding America affiliates. Together, the food banks associated with Feeding the Carolinas can work more collaboratively to fight hunger in our region.

Programs and Services

The Second Harvest Food Bank of Southeast North Carolina works to eliminate the cycle of hunger through a wide range of programs and services. They are achieved through our member agencies and local, state, and national partners.

The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)

A program designed for the distribution of surplus food from the North Carolina Department of Agriculture to low-income families and individuals. The program is administered to Cumberland, Hoke, Robeson, and Sampson counties through over 50 member agencies monthly.

State Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP)

The North Carolina General Assembly provides funding for the North Carolina State Nutritional Assistance Program otherwise known as SNAP. The program allows the Food Bank to purchase products such as canned vegetables, fruits, soups, and other nutritional items which normally don't come through donations regularly.

Backpack Program

The program provides wholesome and nutritious food to elementary school students. With the help of volunteers, the food bank provides food for backpacks each Thursday for distribution at schools on Friday. Each student receives enough food for the weekend to supplement meals otherwise not available.

Volunteer Program

Partnerships with local and state agencies provide volunteer and community service opportunities to individuals and families. Youth have the opportunity to help the community and get training for future careers. Families are afforded the opportunity to work hours towards new home attainment. Click here to apply to volunteer!

Mobile Food Pantry

The mobile pantry is a refrigerated truck that helps us to get fresh, perishable, and frozen grocery products out to high need communities in our service area that lack access to one of our member agencies. The mobile pantry was purchased in 2010, and has since made many monthly deliveries.

How do I get help?

SHFB is always here to help you. To find the agency closest to you, click here and enter your address. If you need immediate assistance, please call us at (910) 485 – 6923 or toll free at (800) 756-6923.

Partners

Fighting hunger requires teamwork. SHFB works with a variety of partners to end hunger in our seven county service area. From financial support to food donations and in-kind support from businesses and foundations, SHFB has formed powerful relationships and continues to strive to build strong relationships to help end hunger in our community. Thank you to all of our partners.

How do we become a member agency?

Member Agencies provide a critical linkage to getting food to at risk families and individuals in the communities they serve. The Food Bank has maintained the current partnerships of non-profit 501(c)3 agencies while growing membership. The agencies often come in a variety of forms to include food pantries, churches of all denominations, soup kitchens, homeless shelters, other charitable organizations, and group homes.

Guidelines for Membership

Complete the membership application outlining the policies and procedures.

Set up a time to be monitored by the Food Bank to ensure the agency's facility is suitable for food storage and distribution.

Attend an agency orientation at the Food Bank where policies and procedures are discussed.

Documentation Requirements

Completed and signed membership application

Organization's 501(c)3 tax-exempt status letter from IRS

Organization's Articles of Incorporation with seal by county's register of deeds

List and information about Board of Directors from five unrelated individuals

How to get Involved

Whether it is sponsoring a campaign, holding an event that helps cultivate the next generation of philanthropists or making a donation, the Food Bank’s partners are an essential part of our fight to end hunger.

Sponsor a food drive

Plan a food drive that benefits Second Harvest Food Bank of Southeast North Carolina.

Have your organization sponsor a Mobile Food Pantry

Sponsorships costs about $2000 and distribution will come with 7,000 to 12,000 pounds of product. One Mobile Food Pantry truck can serve up to 250 households (depending on the amount of products distributed per household). If time is all you have to give, volunteer at the Food Bank. Volunteers are always needed to help in many areas.

Show your friends that you care about the hunger issues of your neighbors through social media by joining us on Facebook and Twitter. Invite your friends, and soon we’ll have everyone talking about hunger..

Hunger in Our Community

Produce Initiative

Second Harvest Food Bank of Southeast North Carolina (SHFB), an Action Pathways program has launched a 3-year produce initiative campaign to get more produce into the hands of those who need it most. The goal in the first year is to distribute 1,000,000 pounds of locally grown, fresh produce across the seven county service area.

The food bank plans to accomplish this goal by partnering with local growers and gleaning groups to develop efficient ways to collect and transport the available produce.

During January 2015, more than 107,000 pounds of produce was sourced and distributed, a more than 60 percent increase over this time last year.

Unsold or surplus produce often ends up being turned into the soil or in a landfill. SHFB would like to see this consumable produce on its shelves, and in turn distributed right here in our community to those most in need.

With the help of community partners, the food bank will be accompanying the produce distribution with a ramped up health and nutrition education plan. Recipe and nutrition information will be made available to the more than 250 member agencies that receive food from SHFB.

Would you like to join the pledge? Tell us how you plan on joining the initiative.

Community Garden

Second Harvest Food Bank of Southeast North Carolina (SHFB) partnered with the NC Cooperative Extension, Sustainable Neighbors and the Extension Master Gardeners to create Community Roots, a volunteer – operated educational garden that provides a wealth of resources for starting and maintaining your own urban garden.

In 2014, a group of volunteers came together to build tabletop garden beds, taught others how to set up and maintain an herb garden and how to obtain the resources to start their own sustainable garden.

In 2015 these initiatives will continue to grow. Workshops will be offered one Saturday and one Tuesday a month to focus on topics that will help you have a successful garden. To get everyone involved kids are invited and specific dates are geared towards kids, such as the Spring Scavenger Hunt and Pumpkin Painting. To view upcoming events, please see the Upcoming Events section on the right or check out our meetup page.